Council supports law enforcement, two resolutions

After more than a month of protests, delayed decisions and public forums, the Greeley City Council decided endorsing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office wasn’t its business anyway.

Council members passed two resolutions on Tuesday night to support law enforcement, oppose crime and deal with the tension that appeared during the process. Neither resolution specifically endorses or opposes an ICE office in Greeley.

The evening’s activities left more than a few people confused, although none of them seemed to think they lost.

While victory chants from those opposed to an office echoed into a hallway outside the council’s chambers, Weld District Attorney Ken Buck said council members stayed within their power, and he is happy with their decision.

Regardless of the council’s votes, the decision whether to place an ICE office in Greeley is out of the council’s control. Federal officials in Washington can put an office wherever they choose. So far, there has been no indication they would choose Greeley for a new office.

With the council’s general statement of support for law enforcement and no comment at all about an office, Buck said he’ll continue to push for an office in Greeley. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave and Sen. Wayne Allard, both Colorado Republicans, have each written letters supporting an office. Buck said he’ll pass on the council’s actions to federal officials.

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Joy Breuer of Greeley has spoken frequently in support of an ICE office. After Tuesday’s meeting, she said she was a little confused about what had happened but figured it had turned out all right.

“I guess they think they won,” Breuer said, pointing to a crowd of ICE opponents, “but as long as Ken’s happy, I’m happy.”

Sylvia Martinez, leader of Latinos Unidos, said council’s decision to take no action on an office is a victory for those who don’t want to see ICE move to Greeley.

“They’re just not going to touch the subject, and that’s what we want,” she said as she hurried to join other members of Latinos Unidos.

The council’s decisions confused even a few of the council members. An early vote accepted a resolution submitted by Buck with an amendment that deleted language detailing connections between the Greeley Police Department and federal and state agencies.

When the resolution passed, ICE supporters could be heard cheering outside the chambers. But just what was passed was suddenly unclear when councilwoman Pam Shaddock said the council needed to vote whether to accept recommendations from Greeley’s human relations commission that included a recommendation not to support an office.

Councilman Carol Martin countered with an amendment to strike that statement from the resolution, while keeping the first four recommendations. He said the council didn’t have the power to build or reject an office in Greeley and shouldn’t make a statement about it. The amendment passed, with Shaddock and Mayor Tom Selders voting against.

The remaining recommendations passed 7-0.

Afterward, Selders said many people were confused about the scope of the council’s power and the final language of the resolutions reflected actions they could control. He likened a resolution endorsing or criticizing an office to the council commenting on any federal issue beyond its power.

“It would be kind of like us giving a resolution to someone and saying, “We’re sick and tired of this high price of gas, so lower it,'” Selders said. “Why would we do something like that? It would have absolutely no bearing.”